Síolta Chroí our story (as of 2024) A Guide to Ecosystem Restoration for Youth & Community Groups

Introduction: Intro to Síolta Chroí 

Síolta Chroí is a regenerative and educational space based in the townland of Aghacloghan in County Monaghan. The objective of the organisation is to restore Ireland’s ecosystems and communities. We do this through education focused on regenerative cultures; exploring resilient and regenerative food systems; and carrying out ecosystem restoration work.

The education work is underpinned by a community development and global justice approach. Síolta Chroí staff and members have experience in working with community groups both in Ireland and overseas. It is from this intention that this guide has been produced; leaning on what is being tried and tested on the small area of land at Síolta Chroí, and exploring examples of what might be possible for communities interested in restoring ecosystems. 

The organisation was established as a cooperative on land purchased by Gareth Conlon and Karen Jeffares, who also raise their young family in the house situated on the land. However thanks to Leader funding, we were in the position of building a straw bale education centre, Teach Tui (more on this later!), which is the focus point of the education activities alongside the education on the land and beyond.

Síolta Chroí translates as ‘seeds of the heart’. We were set up with the intention of regenerating people and wider nature, doing so through what we have now come to reflect on as ‘Soil, Soul, and Society’. INspired by the work of Satish Kumar

What we mean by this is:

• Soil: practically restoring ecosystems both locally, across the island and linking with wider ecosystem restoration efforts globally through our participation in the Ecosystem Restoration Communities network. Soil is a key part of ecosystem restoration, and while the work we do is not limited to this topic, for us Soil is the foundation for healthy food, healthy ecosystems, agroforestry, strong seeds and the future of this work depends on healthy soil. 
• Soul: everything we do with the land is in partnership with the land, we are guided by relationship with the land, we invite in the wisdom and practices of our ancestors, we acknowledge the need for land, ancestral and societal healing, and we promote restorative approaches to healing soil, healing the human bodies and the other nature beings on this land.
• Society: everything we do is from a social justice approach; interrogating systems that result in oppression both on this island and globally, promoting food and seed sovereignty, showing solidarity with movements that challenge injustice and taking a stand on issues that matter.